Isometric viewPC Video Games

Video Games Encyclopedia by Gamepressure.com

PC (Personal computer) - one of the most popular home platforms and the only one which doesn’t offer playing video games as its main purpose. PC was born in the 1970s, but it is impossible to give an exact moment of its birth or even a name of its creator. However, IBM is the one who gave computers their present shape, using, at the beginning of the 1980s, an idea of open architecture – which is today one of the most important differences between computers and consoles.

The foundations of PC as a gaming platform are currently systems of digital distribution of video games (Steam, Origin, Uplay) and MMO games that mostly work in f2p (free-to-play) model.

A real-time strategy taking place in a fantasy universe inspired by Nordic mythology and the Viking way of life. Northgard allows the players to lead a group of Vikings, who after years of tedious exploration have found a mysterious, resource-rich land. To attain their goal of fame and fortune, they will have to face numerous dangers scattered across the new land. Northgard’s gameplay is based on classic real-time strategy games such as Age of Empires, Age of Mythology, or The Settlers. Aside from resource gathering, building settlements, and battles with dozens of units, the game introduces survival elements - the player receives the duty of keeping his clan safe through long, frosty winters. The clan will be facing bloodthirsty wolves, undead warriors, and various mythical creatures, including giants, with whom we can create an alliance. Northgard employs 3D graphics with a light, cartoonish design, while the game itself is seen from an isometric perspective.

The sixth installment of the legendary series of turn-based strategy games that allow us to control a selected civilization throughout several thousand years of its history. It was traditionally developed by Firaxis Games led by Sid Meier, the franchise’s creator, himself. Gameplay-wise, Civilization VI combines together the well-proven solutions of its predecessors but also introduces several revolutionary changes. The most important one is the city development. Metropolises can now span across more than one field and consist of four kinds of districts: industrial, scientific, trading, and military. The technology development system was also modified, so that every invention offers an additional mini-quest that provides a useful bonus. Significant changes were also introduced in diplomacy, and the combat mechanics now somewhat mitigate the restrictions introduced by the fifth installment of the series. The game traditionally features an extensive and fully configurable multiplayer mode.

Another entry in the series of economic strategy games in which the player assumes the role of an owner of a pizzeria. The first game in the series debuted in 1999 and its sequel was released one year later. In the third installment the player is tasked with transforming a small business into a giant network of restaurants scattered across the world. Like before, one of the greatest attractions of the game is a pizza creator that enables the player to create his own versions of the titular dish by using more than 75 ingredients. In addition to that, the player must take care of his business – manage the restaurants and employees, decorate the buildings and perform market analyses. From time to time he must also face his competition, not always according to the rules of fair play. The main mode of Pizza Connection 3 is a story campaign. It starts in Rome, but gradually the player conquers other markets as well. The title also offers a sandbox mode in which the player can freely expand his business. It is worth mentioning that it is the first three-dimensional entry in the series.

A direct sequel to Divinity: Original Sin and another installment in the popular RPG series launched in 2002 by the Belgian developer, Larian Studios. The story takes place once more in the fantasy land of Rivellon and presents events that occur between the first and second game in the franchise. This time around, we assume the role of a sourcerer, who uses the forbidden powers of the Source and is constantly pursued by the Order. We can determine the race and origin of our character, both of which influence the attitude of the encountered NPCs towards him or her to a large extent. The gameplay mechanics do not deviate significantly from the previous game in the series, although the developers did introduce a few novelties, such as a modified combat system, new element combinations as well as Source Powers. Contrary to its predecessor and other titles of the franchise, the production has a clearly darker atmosphere.

A 2D turn-based strategy game set in an original science-fiction universe developed by the creators of FTL: Faster Than Light. In Into the Breach the player controls small squads comprised of mech robots that protect what remains of humanity against the lurking deep underground aliens. The battles in the game take place on relatively small and procedurally-generated 2D battlefields. They are covered with 64 squares, between which both the player and their opponent can move their units. One’s objective is to defend civilian settlements against the aliens. Missions are quite short; however, they pose a considerable logic challenge and offer the players freedom in how they decide to carry them out. Moreover, the player can equip their machines with new weapons and select pilots to operate them – the pilots’ unique abilities have a significant impact on the result of each battle. The retro 2D visuals somewhat resemble what one may have experienced in FTL.

Pillars of Eternity is a fantasy cRPG developed by Obsidian Entertainment with the support of the users of Kickstarter funding platform. The player assumes the role of a hero who, with the help of his or her companions must embark on a dangerous quest complete a series of perilous tasks. The gameplay of Pillars of Eternity is reminiscent of classic productions such as Baldur's Gate, Icewind Dale, and Planescape: Torment. The creators decided to utilize combat mechanics with an active pause system. The game features also a complex character development system, and a rich variety of weapons and gear for the characters can use.

A sequel to the successful RPG developed by Obsidian Entertainment. The story told in Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire follows the threads started in the first installment of the series. Eothas, the god of renewal and light, comes back to life and takes the form of a statue buried under the protagonist’s keep. Although the stronghold gets destroyed, the main hero survives. From now on, he or she has to pursue a new goal, which is to hunt down Eothas as well as find answers to questions that can bring chaos to the world of gods and mortals. Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire takes the player to the eponymous Deadfire archipelago in the far east. In this new region you can travel not only on foot, but also by ship. While controlling your party of characters, in the classic isometric view, you get to explore different locations, complete missions of varying importance and fight with opponents met on the way. Note that the world of Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire lives a life of its own, and the choices you made in the first game have consequences here too. Some changes and improvements were made to the User Interface and dialogue system as well as the visuals, which now feature dynamic weather.

The first official expansion to the third installment in the cult hack-and-slash series, Diablo. The add-on, prepared by Blizzard Entertainment, supplements the main campaign with another, fifth, story act, in which Malthael, the Angel of Death, tries to use any means necessary to end the war between the divine creatures and demons. To this end, he decides to use the Black Soulstone that binds Diablo’s soul. Additionaly, the expansion introduces a new playable hero – the Crusader, as well as raises the character experience level cap to 70. Diablo III: Reaper of Souls introduces an overhauled loot system – rewards are now less frequent, but more powerful and better suited to your character class. Some changes are also visible in the game's visual style, which is now much more grim and darker than in the base game.

An online action RPG from Grinding Gear Games, a developer team from New Zealand. The action of Path of Exile is set in a fantasy world which was destroyed by a grand cataclysm. The players assume the role of exiles who try to survive in the dangerous continent of Wraeclast. The gameplay is focused on cooperation in teams of several players that traverse instance-based locations together. Each character can be developed choosing from more than 1300 skills. Visually, Path of Exile is inspired by the classics of the action RPG genre (Diablo, Sacred, and others), including the isometric camera. The game is free-to-play, but offers some additional facilities and items via optional micropayments.

The third installment in a highly popular action-RPG franchise, created and developed by Blizzard Entertainment. Diablo III takes players back to the world of Sanctuary, where they have to stand up to forces of evil. The story is set 10 years after the events of the second game. Tristram cathedral gets hit by a mysterious comet, whose impact awakens the armies of Hell. Diablo III features new character classes and a modified character progression system. Blizzard aimed for a further increase of combat dynamics, implementation of extensive social features, as well as atmospheric audiovisuals.

A sequel to Stronghold, an economic strategy game set in the Middle Ages and developed by FireFly Studios in 2001. This time we travel to the Middle East of the crusades period in the late 11th and the early 12th century. The game mechanics are not much different from what fans of the series know and love. The game's biggest innovation is the setting, albeit it features also some minor gameplay adjustment, such as dealing with limited water supplies. The developers offered four campaigns, in which you can lead the crusader army as Richard the Lionheart or command the Arabic soldiers as Saladin. The already wide spectrum of military units was expanded even further, featuring several units unique for each side of the conflict. In addition, the game offers a wider selection of clever siege weapons and defensive measures to be used in battle, a functional scenario editor, and a new Skirmish Mode.

Divinity: Original Sin is a sequel to the cRPG series developed by Larian Studios. The game is set before the events presented in Divine Divinity (2002). The story focuses on the adventures of young Source Hunters, who have to delve into the arcanes of forbidden magic and prevent its effects. Gameplay is based on classic RPG mechanics. You lead a team of up to four heroes and together you complete quests, explore locations, and fight enemies. As they gain experience, the characters' stats will increase and they can master new skills. Apart from single player mode, Divinity: Original Sin offers a co-op mode with a second player via LAN or Internet.

A remastered edition of the legendary RPG developed by BioWare in 1998. It was enhanced by Overhaul Games and contains the vanilla game as well as the Tales of the Sword Coast expansion. The plot takes us to the popular Forgotten Realms universe where we follow the adventures of a six-member party led by the protagonist, an orphan brought up by his foster father. The hero embarks on a dangerous journey to face forces of evil and uncover a horrifying truth about his or her origins. The gameplay is based on the rules of the Dungeons & Dragons system. The remastered version of the game features, first and foremost, improved graphics and entirely new content in the form of quests and items created in cooperation with the developers of the original for the purposes of this edition.

A real-time strategy game enriched with elements of RPGs, city builders, and survival games. Ancient Cities was developed by the independent developer Uncasual Games. The player assumes the role of a tribal leader living in the Neolithic era. The tasks of the player are to provide shelter and protection against predators for the members of the tribe, as well as to obtain sufficient amounts of food. Gathering resources (the whole in-game economy is based on them) resembles a survival game, as flora and fauna are simulated within a dynamic ecosystem. Consequently, wild plants and animals are soon not enough to sustain a constantly growing tribe. In harsh periods, the player has to distribute supplies wisely - for instance, foods naturally degrade over time. Things can also get complicated as a result of sudden climatic changes and natural disasters - one oftentimes has to decide whether to stay in one's settlement and try to survive a difficult period, or to abandon the base in search for a safer zone. Alongside progression, the player unlocks new upgrades in the extensive technology tree, which allows for improvements to one's methods of crafting and cultivation, making the tribe's existence easier in the long run. Members of the tribe are described by individual sets of statistics, talents and skills. These mechanics are complemented by having more or less friendly relations with other tribes.

A computer RPG based on a tabletop roleplaying system called Numenera that combines elements of fantasy and science-fiction. The title was created by indie developer inXile entertainment, mostly known for the highly acclaimed remake of The Bard’s Tale and post-apocalyptic Wasteland 2. The game is a spiritual successor to Planescape: Torment - one of the classics of the genre, created by Black Isle Studio in 1999. The original game’s co-creator, Colin McComb, was the lead designer in this new project. The game is set in the distant future, where humanity created a society on a civilization level similar to the Middle Ages, albeit the setting features also rare examples of highly-advanced technology left after more advanced, extinct civilizations. Gameplay is based on the rules of the tabletop system, appropriately modified for the needs of a computer game. The game features isometric perspective and real-time action, although the battles themselves are turn-based, as well as a system of moral choices, which have impact on the world and reactions of non-player characters.

A post-apocalyptic cRPG game that serves as a sequel to a hit title from 1988. Wasteland 2 was developed by Brian Fargo’s (the creator of the original Wasteland) inXile Entertainment Studio with financial support from the community via Kickstarter crowdfunding. The story is set 15 years after the events of the first game. You play as a member of the Desert Rangers and traverse the titular Wasteland - what is left of the United States after a nuclear war. Gameplay is based on classic RPG elements, including turn-based combat, free character progression, and player's choices that shape the way the story unfolds. The game is powered by the popular Unity engine, making full use of its ability to generate isometric 3D graphics.

A sequel to one of the biggest hits by Blizzard Entertainment. The plot of Diablo II follows the events of the first installment. The victory over Diablo turned out to be merely an illusion. Having possessed the body of his conqueror, Aidan, Diablo plans to unleash his brothers – Mefisto and Baal – with the purpose of enslaving the human kind once and for all. The player’s objective is to thwart the demon’s dreadful plans. The mechanics are very similar to those featured in the first part of Diablo – the game still emphasizes dynamic hack-n-slash combat as well as skill and psycho-physical attribute development by gaining experience points. The visuals in Diablo II combine 2D and 3D elements and the soundtrack was composed by Matt Uelmen.

A post-apocalyptic RPG and a sequel to the 1997’s bestseller, Fallout. Fallout 2 was developed by Black Isle Studios, once again in cooperation with Interplay. The action is set in 2241, 80 years after the events of the first game. The player assumes the role of a chosen one, who is tasked by the village elders with finding the G.E.C.K, a device capable of restoring the world after the nuclear apocalypse. Many gameplay solutions from the original remain unchanged, including the S.P.E.C.I.A.L. character creation system and the tactical turn-based combat mechanics. The number of available skills and perks, as well as the player's weapon arsenal and additional equipment were increased. The game offers isometric 2D graphics, a feature characteristic of the RPGs of the late 90s.

A sequel to a bestselling RTS game released by the Blizzard company in 1998. The story of the second game was split into three separate episodes; Wings of Liberty is the first installment in the trilogy, focusing on Terrans. In the game you meet an old acquaintance - Jim Raynor. Deemed a rebel, now he fights with Zerg forces, who seem to be interested in a mysterious artifact. He also encounters the powerful and mysterious race of Protoss. In comparison with the prequel, gameplay mechanics did not go through any drastic changes, allowing the authors to focus on new, upgraded visuals, multiplayer mode enhancements, and other minor modifications. Single player campaign allows the player to complete the available scenarios in any order and freely choose which technologies to develop. Furthermore, between the missions you can explore the world, talk to non-player characters, and use their services.

A turn-based tactical strategy game set in a futuristic, science fiction universe and a sequel to XCOM: Enemy Unknown (2012). Both games were produced by the experienced developer, studio Firaxis Games, founded by Sid Meier, a legend of the video game industry. The story is set 20 years after the events of the last game. Despite their heroic efforts, human forces proved themselves helpless against the alien invaders, and the Blue Planet fell into their hands. However, the remnants of the XCOM organization are still active in the underground, and pick up guerilla tactics against the enemy in order to reclaim the planet. Gameplay mechanics reprises the solutions known from the previous game, featuring both the strategic layer – where you manage your mobile base and develop new technologies – and tactical, turn-based combat. The game features randomly generated maps, as well as improved combat and command system.

Lord of Destruction is the first official expansion pack for Diablo II. It was developed by Blizzard North. The expansion allows the players to fight with the third Prime Evil, Baal, who gathered an army of demons and besieges the Harrogath fortress, which is located at the base of Mount Arreat. The titular Lord of Destruction tries to find the legendary Worldstone. Our job is to stop him before he manages to do so. Along with the new storyline, Diablo II: Lord of Destruction introduces two no classes, Assassin and Druid. The expansion also comes with new weapons and armors, new Horadric Cube combinations, and with items that have a chance of casting a spell when being used. Our item inventory has increased in capacity and we can change the game's resolution from VGA (640x480) to SVGA (800x600). Lord of Destruction's soundtrack was composed, like in the base game, by Matt Uelmen.

A classic RPG game developed by the genre veterans, Obsidian Entertainment (developers of Pillars of Eternity and other popular titles). Tyranny takes place in a fantasy world called Tiers, in which the eternal struggle between the good and evil ended in victory of the latter. A powerful man named Kyros reigns over the world and the player assumes the role of one of his officers, who is the judge and jury for common folk - a person that makes sure that the will of the leader is carried out unopposed. The player can decide how will he treat the citizens of the conquered realm – fairly or with no mercy. Similarly as every classic RPG, Tyrany allows us to create and develop characters that represents one of several available classes and create a party of adventurers who will accompany the player. During the game, the player will explore the world, complete quests and battle enemies. Combat take place in real time, featuring an active pause. Group attack combinations are an interesting innovation. The visual style of Tyranny references the old school role-playing games, but the visuals are detailed and impressive.

An upgraded version of the bestselling 1998 RTS game. Both versions were developed by Blizzard Entertainment. Compared to the original release, the game (including the Brood War expansion) features mainly significantly improved audiovisuals. Although the visuals remain two-dimensional, all the graphic elements have become more detailed. Furthermore, the game supports high resolutions (up to 4K), as well as refreshed audio, which also applies to dialogues between characters. Changes were introduced to the game's online component as well - StarCraft: Remastered offers an advanced system of matchmaking, the option to store one's save files in the cloud, quick button re-mapping, and easy access to fan-made maps and replays. The mechanics remain unchanged - the game is a classic RTS, featuring three playable races (the Terrans, the Protoss, and the Zerg). The gameplay is based on gathering resources, building one's base, conducting research, producing units, and fighting enemies - in combat, taking advantage of both the enemy's weak spots and the strong spots of the player's forces, constitutes the key to success. Apart from six story campaigns (two for each of the races), the game offers an extensive multiplayer component with various game modes.